Men looking to spice up their love life may want to avoid spicy curries.
Eating spicy food has a dampening effect on a man’s arousal, according to new research.
Men who ate spicy food three or more times a week were almost three times more likely to have erection problems, according to new research.
Urologists from South China University said: ‘Our study suggests that frequent consumption of spicy foods may increase the risk of erectile dysfunction, especially among non-smokers.
‘The more frequently spicy foods are eaten, the more severe the ED will be. Men with ED may need to have their diet adjusted to account for the impact of spicy food.’
It is estimated that more than half of men between the ages of 40 and 70 suffer from some degree of erectile dysfunction. Risk factors include older age, smoking, nerve damage, and conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
Men who ate spicy food three or more times a week were almost three times more likely to have erection problems, according to new research (file image)
Men who ate spicy food three or more times a week were almost three times more likely to have erection problems (file photo)
It is unclear to what extent spicy food may have such an effect, although the results show that the more spicy food consumed, the lower the testosterone levels (file image)
In the new study, which appears in Translational Andrology and Urology, researchers looked at the role of diet as well as smoking habits in about 400 men with and without ED.
The men completed detailed questionnaires about their diets and lifestyle, and were assessed for their erectile dysfunction status. They also completed assessments looking at the effects of erectile dysfunction on relationships, health, and psychological problems.
The results show that eating spicy food more than three times per week is associated with a 2.58-fold increased risk of erectile dysfunction. The results were limited to non-smokers. No increased risk was found in smokers who ate spicy food, possibly because smoking itself is a risk factor for erectile dysfunction that may obscure any dietary effects.
It’s not clear how much spicy food might have that effect, but the results show that the more spicy food you eat, the lower your testosterone levels are. Those who ate seven days a week had levels about 12 percent lower than those who didn’t eat.
The results also show that the more spicy food men ate, the higher their risk of marital problems.
The men had completed a questionnaire designed to detect relationship problems. Regular consumers of spicy food scored significantly higher, indicating they were likely to have problems.
According to the researchers, this could be because men who regularly consume very hot peppers tend to be more irritable. “They tend to develop an irritable character, prone to fights and disharmonious family relationships,” they say.
Commenting on the research, Professor Raj Persad, consultant urologist at Bristol Urology, said: “This is an interesting observational study. There are all sorts of possible explanations for these observations. One may be that those who eat spicier foods may have a higher tendency towards diabetes or a high BMI, which could be implicated in erectile dysfunction.
“The study may illustrate an important principle in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Physicians should not only try to use drugs to improve erectile function, but should also try to exclude toxic influences such as smoking and, perhaps now, high levels of pungent toxins in the circulation.”
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